Method and apparatus for the production of cigars



March 1, 1960 G. CARLSON.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CIGARS Filed March 3. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nb Rh Nb wm om INVENTOR G'usm ATTORNEY March 1, 1960 e. CARLSON 2,926,670 I METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CIGARS Filed March 3. 1958 s Shets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY March 1, 1960 G. CARLSON 2,926,670

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CIGARS Filed March 3. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 T1 :IA-

INVENTOR gysrirg ,Cmaso v ATTORNEY 7 ing and wrapping. mechanism.

United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CIGARS Gustav Carlson, Audubon, N.J., assignor to-Consolidated Cigar Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application March 3, 1958 Serial No. 713,867

9 Claims, (Cl. 131-169) The present invention relates generally to the production of cigars, and it relates. in particular to an improved method and apparatus for the production of cigar bunches formed of short filler tobacco and the resulting product.

The conventional machine for producing cigars from long-leaf filler tobacco includes a cross-feed consisting of a bottom endless belt and laterally spaced side endless belts which define a cross-feed trough into which the longleaf tobacco is longitudinally laid. The belts are intermittently driven to advance the tobacco as a stream to. a cutting device which severs predetermined lengths of tobacco from the stream. The severed lengths of filler tobacco. are delivered to a stacking mechanism which deposits them into a vertical compressed column. Measured charges of tobacco are transversely separated from the bottom ofthc column and fed to the usual cigar bind- Machines of the above type and their operation are illustrated and described in US. Patents Nos. 2,611,372 to P. Peterson; 2,603,220 to J. P. Durning; 2,311,011 to H; H. Wheeler; 2,605,936 to R. E. Rundell, and others. While these machines are highly satisfactory for the production of cigars from long-leaf filler they cannot be satisfactorily employed with short-leaf filler tobacco. As a consequence, machines of an entirely different construction and operation are used in producing cigars with short-leaf filler. The necessity of employing different machines for long-leaf and short-leaf filler cigars is highly inconvenient and expensive.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved machine for the production of cigars.

Another objectof the present invention is to provide an improved method for the production of cigars.

Still another object of the present invention is to providean improved cigar.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine and method for the production of cigars having either long-leaf filler or short-leaf filler tobacco.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for feeding a stream of tobacco filler to a cigar-making machine,

characterized by the ability to satisfactorily form cigars having either short-leaf or long-leaf filler tobacco.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a cigar-making machine constructed according to and embodying the present invention, illustrated partially broken away for convenience of illustration;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Patented Mar. 1, 1960 Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the trailing end of the cross-feed of the present machine, shown broken away for convenience of illustration, and illustrating the machine lacing up position; v

Figure 6 is a perspective detail view of the trailing end of the improved filler cross-feed mechanism in accord ance with the present invention;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the trailing end of the cross-feed, illustrating the band former;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the filler transport band;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10=--10 in Figure 2, illustrating the transport band in shaped condition;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 in Figure 2, illustrating the transport band carrying a stream of filler tobacco; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a severed length of filler tobacco and band as deposited in the filler storage column.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of an improved method for producing cigars comprising forming a stream of filler tobacco carried on an advancing longitudinally extending band, successively severing predetermined lengths of said band and tobacco stream from the leading end thereof, combining said out lengths of said band and said tobacco filler to form a column thereof, and separating measured charges from said column.

The improved cigar machine for practicing the above method includes a conveyor, means for feeding a band to said conveyor to be advanced therewith, said band being adapted to carry and advance a stream of filler tobacco therewith, means for severing predetermined lengths of said band and said filler stream from the leading end thereof, means for assembling said severed lengths to form a column, and means for separating measured charges from said column.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrates a me ferred embodiment of the present invention which may be employed in practicing the improved method, numeral it generally designates the cross-feed section of the cigarmaking machine, and numeral 12 the stream-severingcharge measuring and cigar-bunching section of the machine. It should be noted that section 12 of the machine is conventional and of the type described in detail in the above identified Peterson patent as well as in the other of the patents referred to above. The cross-feed section 10 includes a horizontal support'plate 13 extending longitudinally from the feed end of the machine to the section 12. Adjacent the opposite ends of support plate 13 are a pair of openings 14 with which register a pair of longitudInally spaced drums 16 and 17 respectively, suitably supported for rotation about transverse axes, drum 16 being. intermittently driven and drum 17 being an idler drums 19 and 20 respectively, drums 1 9 and 20 being mounted for rotation about vertical axes, the. forward drums being intermittently driven in synchronism with drum 16, the trailing drums 20 being idler drums. Side endless belts 21 engage each pair of drums 19 and 28, the confronting runs of the belts 21 being the advancing runs, parallel to each other. Extending along the confronting faces of the advancing runs of belts 21, and for substantially the full length of said runs and the full height of the belts 21, are guide plates 22 which have their inner faces closely spaced from the confronting faces of the respective belts 21 and their lower edge slightly above the top run of the belt 18. A longitudinal guide plate 23 covers the tops of each of belts 21 and of associated pulleys 19 and 20.

Mounted on the trailing end of support plate 13 in alignment with the feed channel or trough 26, which is defined by the plates 22 and the upper run of the belt 18, is a rearwardly extending guide and forming member 27. Said forming member 27 includes a base plate 28 secured to the top face of support plate 13, and provided with a pair of forwardly projecting horizontal arms 29 which terminate in upright inwardly forwardly extending lips 30. Lips 30 are directed to the bight between the belts 21 and the guide plates 22. A pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending guide bars 32 are disposed on the top face of base plate 28 and terminate at a point rearwardly of lips 30, and disposed laterally outwardly of the leading ends of lips 30. A circular opening 33 is formed in base plate 28 rearwardly of the trailing edge of support plate 13, the function of which will be hereinafter set forth.

The mechanism for supplying a continuous transport band B to the cross-feed includes an upright 34 which is located adjacent the rear corner of the feed assembly 10. Mounted adjacent the upper end of upright 34 is a horizontal transverse axle 36 which rotatably carries a spindle 37. Spindle 37 includes a hub portion which is provided with a peripheral flange 38 located between the ends of axle 36 and which carries a roll 39 of the band B wound upon any suitable spool, as 40. An end plate 41 retains spool or bobbin 40 and roll 39 in position on the hub, and is releasably locked by means of a separable nut 42. A brake drum 43 is affixed to the hub and is disposed on the opposite side of flange 38. A flexible brake band 49 passes about the upper periphery of brake drum 43, and has one end thereof secured to a rod 50 projecting laterally from upright 34 below axle 36. The other end of brake band 49 is secured by way of a helical tension spring 51 to the free end of a rearwardly upwardly inclined bracket arm 52, the inner end of which is pivoted to a shaft bracket 53. The brake band 49 and brake drum 43 function to impart a retarding torque to the rollsupporting hub rod in order to prevent backlash.

Projecting laterally from the upper end of bracket arm 52 is an axle 54 which supports a freely rotatable guide roller 56. Guide roller 56 is movable with the bracket arm 52 between a lower guide position, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 6 of the drawing, and an upper position. A latching arm 57 has its inner end pivotally connected to upright 34, and has formed therein a pair of forwardly and downwardly directed recesses 58 and 59 respectively. Bracket arm 52 may be locked in its rear depressed operable position by bringing the inner end of axle 54 into registry with recess 59, or in its forward upper inoperative position by bringing axle 54 into registry with recess 58.

A pressure roller supporting yoke 60 includes an upper cross pin 61 projecting laterally from the free end of a swingable arm 63 pin-connected to upright 34. Depending from cross pin 61 are a pair of laterally spaced legs 64 which are separated by a cross bar 65 disposed below pin 61 and secured to legs 64. A shaft 66 is carried by and between the lower ends of yoke legs 64, one end projecting laterally beyond leg 64 away from upright 34. Supported by shaft 66 between yoke arms 64 is a freely rotatable pressure roller 67 which registers with the trough 26 and is gravity-urged towards the upper run of endless belt 18. A radially extending arm 68 is secured to the laterally projecting portion of shaft 66, and is normally downwardly and forwardly inclined when the pressure roller 67 rests substantially on the upper run of belt 18. Pressure roller 67 may be raised to an elevated position by swinging yoke 60 clockwise, as seen in Figures 1, 5 and 6 of the drawings, and by swinging arm 63 counterclockwise. It may be supported in a raised position by swinging arms 68 counterclockwise and permitting it to come to rest in a vertical position upon support plate 13, as seen in Figure 5 of the drawing.

A light beam projector 70 is carried on a rearwardly projecting support arm 71 mounted on upright 34 between the upper and lower ends thereof. Projector 70 includes an electric lamp and a lens system to direct a beam of light through opening 33 in the base plate of former 28 toward the aperture of photoelectric relay 72. Photoelectric relay 72 is of conventional construction, and is enclosed in a suitable housing, mounted below support plate 13 by means of a bracket 73 depending from plate 13. Photoelectric relay 72 is coupled in a conventional manual, to the main drive motor 72a of the machine so as to disconnect the motor and inactivate the machine upon a beam of light passing through the aperture in the photoelectric relay.

A shield or mask 74 is mounted on bracket 60 and extends upwardly and rearwardly thereof in alignment with legs 64. When pressure roller 67 is in operative position, urged towards the upper run of belt 18, as best seen in Figures 1 and 6 of the drawing, shield 74 is out of the path of the light beam extending from projector 70. However, as seen in Figure 5 of the drawing, when pressure roller 67 is raised to inactive position, shield 74 is swung into a position intercepting the light beam from projector 70 thereby to trigger photoelectric relay 72 to engage the drive motor and activate the machine.

A switch 76 is provided with a roller-carrying actuating arm 77 which is movable by support arm 52 between a raised position and a depressed position. When roller 56 is in normal operating position, in registry with latch arm recess 59, switch arm 77 is depressed. When roller 56 and the arm 52 are elevated, switch arm 77 moves to a raised position thereby to actuate switch 76. Arm 52 may be latched in raised position by bringing axle 54 into engagement with recess 58. Switch 76 is so connected that the machine drive motor is disengaged upon elevation of switch arm 77 consequent to the raising of roller 56 and arm 52.

Disposed above the discharge end of feed trough 26 is a support bracket 78 provided with longitudinally spaced vertical bores 79 and 80, which respectively slidably engage a guide rod 81 and a reciprocating actuating shaft 82. A horizontal presser foot 83 is supported at the lower ends of the guide rod and shaft 81 and 82, and registers with the feed channel 26. Hinged to the trailing end of presser foot 83 is an upwardly and rearwardly directed plate 84 terminating in a trailing upwardly curved portion 86. A rearwardly directed arm 87 is pivoted to bracket 78 and carries at its trailing end a depending link 88, the lower end of which is pivoted to extension arm of plate 84. Hinged adjacent the trailing end of presser foot 83 is an upwardly directed rod 89 which passes through an opening formed in arm 87 and carries helical compression spring 90. Helical spring 90 is adjustably entrapped between the upper face of arm 87 and a nut 91 engaging the upper threaded end of rod 89.

A vertical magazine 96 is provided in which is loaded a stack or column of filler tobacco and band delivered by conveyor 18 and from which measured charges of tobacco are periodically removed, said magazine being located directly forward of the discharge end of conveyor 18. Magazine 96 is surrounded by side walls and front and rear walls 97 and 98 respectively, the discharge end of belt 18 communicating with the magazine 96 by way of a bridge member 99.

pression spring 102, i nto"registrywith tnagazine 96 adjustably to compress tobaccoin magazine 96 with a predetermined pressure. support plate 103 is disposed adjacent the upper-mouth of magazine 96 just below the top face of bridge member 99, and is transversely movable into and out of registry with the mouth of magazine 96.

Disposed directly below magazine 96 is a transversely movable measuring chamber or metering frame 104,

normally in vertical alignment with magazine 96. The confronting end faces of magazine 96 and metering frame .104 are vertically spaced to accommodate a transversely movable severing blade 106. A pressure head 107 is carried on a vertically reciprocating rod 108, and is periodically brought into registry with metering frame 104 when the latter is in vertical alignment with magazine 96.

A vertically reciprocating cutter 110 is disposed above the trailing end of magazine 96 and includes a corrugated blade 111. Disposed below and in vertical alignment with blade 111 is a ledger plate 112 which projects forwardly from the bridge 99 immediately above the level of support plate 103. It should be noted that the rear wall of magazine 96 has its inner face corrugated substantially in vertical alignment with ledger plate 112. Metering frame 104 is laterally movable from magazine 96 to a bunch-rolling mechanism of any well known construction. A detailed description of the cigar-making machine of the nature above described is set forth in the above identified Peterson patent as well as in the various patents referred to therein.

Considering now the operation of the improved machine, band B as taken from supply roll 39 is initially inserted in the machine by raising pressure roller 67 and Withdrawing the band B from roll 39, passing it under roll 56 along former plate 27, the sides of the band being bent upwardly as at C and directed into the bight between conveyor belts 21 and guide plates 22. The roller 67 is then permitted to bear upon the upper surface of band B, urging it into frictional engagement with the upper run of conveyor belt 18. The machine motor is then activated and short-leafed tobacco T deposited in the trough 26 upon the advancing band B. As the stream of tobacco carried by band B approaches the discharge end of trough 26, it is compressed by pressure plate 83 and extension 84. The tobacco stream is then advanced beyond the discharge end of conveyor. 18 by channelshaped band B which possesses longitudinal rigidity by reason of upright side walls C. Conveyor 18 then stops and presser foot 100 and cutter 110 are depressed, the presser foot firmly holding the leading end of the tobacco stream and band against the reciprocable support plate 103 while blade 111 effects the cutting from said tobacco stream, said leading end of the tobacco stream and band which defines a predetermined length thereof in accordance with the increment of the advance of the stream as aforesaid which, as illustrated, is equal to the length of the magazine.

Upon descent of cutter 110, support plate 103 is rapidly withdrawn so that the severed length of tobacco and the supporting band falls into the stack or column D of tobacco and band in the magazine 96, the descending presser foot 100 compressing the assembled stack of tobacco and severed bands. During the descent of presser foot 100, head 107 moves slightly upwardly in metering frame 104 so that the compressed stack of tobacco and band is supported between the confronting faces of foot 100 and head 107, the height of head 107 and the metering frame 104 determining the amount of the tobacco charge. Thereafter, cutting'blade 106 slides between the magazine 96 and the metering frame 104 to sever a charge of tobacco from stack D. Head 107 is then depressed to the lower level of frame 104, which is transversely moved to deliver the charge of tobacco to the, bunching mechanism. It should be noted that the band B is formed of reconstit uted tobacco which is somewhat" friable and that band l3, while it may be' crushed to some extent in the. stack or in the metered charge, substantially maintains its integrity. Examples of a material which may be employed as the band are set forth in US. Patents Nos. 2,592,553 and 2,706,695. Other types of reconstituted tobacco may, of course, be used including those employing a waterinsoluble binder.

When roll 39 of band B is exhausted, opening 33 in the former plate base 28 is uncovered thereby permitting a beam of light from the projector to enter the aperture of the photo-electric relay 72 to deactivate the machine. A new roll may then be placed in the machine and the material relaced in the machine in the manner above set forth. In the event that, for some reason, it is desired to stop the machine, this may be accomplished simply by raising the roller 56 and the arm 52 to deactivate switc 76. a

While there have been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, while the present invention has been illustrated as applied to a cigar machine in which the severed lengths of tobacco filler and band are stored as a vertical column it may be applied to other types of cigar-making machinery in which the severed lengths may be otherwise stored, such as in a horizontal storage or stock,

I claim:

1. A cigar machine comprising a conveyor, means for feeding a band to said conveyor to be advanced therewith, said band being adapted to carry and advance a stream of filler tobacco therewith, means for severing predetermined lengths of said band and said filler stream from the leading end thereof, means for assembling said severed lengths to form a stack, means for separating a measured charge of band and filler from said stack, and means for shaping and wrapping said charge in a binder sheet to form a cigar.

2. A cigar machine in accordance with claim 1, including means for imparting a non-linear transverse crosssection to said advancing band to impart longitudinal rigidity thereto.

3. A cigar machine in accordance with claim 1, including means for imparting a transverse channel shape to said advancing band to impart longitudinal rigidity thereto.

4. A cigar machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises a longitudinally extending horizontal endless belt and including a pair of laterally spaced parallel longitudinally extending guide plates disposed along said conveyor and a forming member directed toward said guide plates for bending the longitudinal borders of said band upwardly, and directing said borders to the outer faces of said guide plates.

5. A cigar machine in accordance with claim 4, wherein said forming member includes a pair of laterally spaced upwardly directed forwardly converging lips.

6. A cigar machine in accordance with claim 4, including a pair of laterally spaced, horizontally extending vertical endless conveyor belts having advancing runs parallel and adjacent to the outer faces of said guide plates.

7. A cigar machine in accordance with claim 1, includ ing a pressure roller resting on said band adjacent the forward end of said conveyor.

8. A cigar machine in accordance with claim 2, including means for deactivating said machine upon an interruption of said band.

9. A cigar machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said stack is in the form of a vertical column.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Goodwin Feb. 16, 1843 Consuegra et a1. Feb. 2, 1869 5 Spencer Aug. 30, 1870 Weiss Sept. 10, 1912 

